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Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

v2.4.0.6
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Ìý
Basis Of Consolidation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with SEC rules and regulations and in the opinion of management, contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly, the financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income, and cash flows for the periods presented. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Management bases its estimates on various assumptions and historical experience, which are believed to be reasonable; however, due to the inherent nature of estimates, actual results may differ significantly due to changed conditions or assumptions. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ended December 31, 2012 or any other future period. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our wholly owned and majority-owned subsidiaries, including the following operations:

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ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýNameÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Ìý ÌýÌýÌýÌýLocationÌýÌýÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌýÌýÌýOwnershipÌýInterestÌýÌýÌýÌý Ìý Ìý ÌýÌýÌýÌýOperationÌýÌýÌýÌý

ÌýNorthshore

Ìý ÌýMinnesota Ìý Ìý 100.0 %Ìý Ìý IronÌýOre

ÌýUnited Taconite

Ìý ÌýMinnesota Ìý Ìý 100.0 %Ìý Ìý Iron Ore

ÌýWabush

Ìý ÌýLabrador/Quebec,ÌýCanada Ìý Ìý 100.0 %Ìý Ìý Iron Ore

ÌýBloom Lake

Ìý ÌýQuebec, Canada Ìý Ìý 75.0 %Ìý Ìý Iron Ore

ÌýTilden

Ìý ÌýMichigan Ìý Ìý 85.0 %Ìý Ìý Iron Ore

ÌýEmpire

Ìý ÌýMichigan Ìý Ìý 79.0 %Ìý Ìý Iron Ore

ÌýKoolyanobbing

Ìý ÌýWestern Australia Ìý Ìý 100.0 %Ìý Ìý Iron Ore

ÌýPinnacle

Ìý ÌýWest Virginia Ìý Ìý 100.0 %Ìý Ìý Coal

ÌýOak Grove

Ìý ÌýAlabama Ìý Ìý 100.0 %Ìý Ìý Coal

ÌýCLCC

Ìý ÌýWest Virginia Ìý Ìý 100.0 %Ìý Ìý Coal

Intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated upon consolidation.

Investments In Ventures

The following table presents the detail of our investments in unconsolidated ventures and where those investments are classified in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. Parentheses indicate a net liability.

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Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý (InÌýMillions) Ìý

InvestmentÌýÌýÌýÌý

ÌýÌý ClassificationÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Interest
ÌýÌýPercentageÌýÌý
ÌýÌý ÌýÌýMarchÌý31,
2012
Ìý ÌýÌý ÌýÌýDecemberÌý31,ÌýÌý
2011
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ÌýÌý InvestmentsÌýinÌýventures ÌýÌý 30 ÌýÌý $ ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý492.5ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý$ 498.6ÌýÌý ÌýÌý

AusQuest

ÌýÌý Investments in ventures ÌýÌý 30 ÌýÌý Ìý 3.5ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 3.7ÌýÌý ÌýÌý

Cockatoo

ÌýÌý Other liabilities ÌýÌý 50 ÌýÌý Ìý (13.9)Ìý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý (15.0)Ìý ÌýÌý

Hibbing

ÌýÌý Other liabilities ÌýÌý 23 ÌýÌý Ìý (4.4)Ìý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý (6.8)Ìý ÌýÌý

Other

ÌýÌý Investments in ventures ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý 34.9ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 24.3ÌýÌý ÌýÌý
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Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý$ 512.6ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý$ 504.8ÌýÌý ÌýÌý
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Immaterial Errors

In September 2011, we noted an error in the accounting for theÌý21 percent noncontrolling interest in the Empire mine. In accordance with applicable GAAP, management quantitatively and qualitatively evaluated the materiality of the error and determined the error to be immaterial to the quarterly reports previously filed for the periods ended March 31, 2011 and June 30, 2011 and also immaterial for the quarterly report for the period ended September 30, 2011. Accordingly, all of the resulting adjustments were recorded prospectively in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2011. The impact of the immaterial error in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2011 would have resulted in an increase in Income from Continuing Operations of $8.4 million and a decrease in Net Income Attributable to Cliffs Shareholders of $37.5 million or $0.28 to basic and diluted earnings per common share. These adjustments should be considered when comparing the operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2012 to the reported results for the three months ended March 31, 2011, as such adjustments are not reflected in the operating results reported for the three months ended March 31, 2011.

Discontinued Operations
Reportable Segments

Reportable Segments

As a result of the acquisition of Consolidated Thompson in May 2011, we revised the number of our operating and reportable segments as determined under ASC 280. Our Company's primary operations are organized and managed according to product category and geographic location and now include: U.S. Iron Ore, Eastern Canadian Iron Ore, North American Coal, Asia Pacific Iron Ore, Asia Pacific Coal, Latin American Iron Ore, Ferroalloys and our Global Exploration Group. Our historical presentation of segment information consisted of three reportable segments: North American Iron Ore, North American Coal and Asia Pacific Iron Ore. Our restated presentation consists of four reportable segments: U.S. Iron Ore, Eastern Canadian Iron Ore, North American Coal and Asia Pacific Iron Ore. The amounts disclosed in NOTE 2 – SEGMENT REPORTING reflect this restatement.

Significant Accounting Policies

Significant Accounting Policies

A detailed description of our significant accounting policies can be found in the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Due to continued market movement away from historical benchmark prices and the evolution of customer supply agreements to meet the requirements of the market, there have been changes in our significant accounting policies from those disclosed therein. The significant accounting policies requiring updates have been included within the disclosures below.